Ryan McGowan’s father faces Australian extradition

MARTYN McLAUGHLIN

THE father of a top flight Scottish football star has applied for bail in an Australian court as he faces extradition to Scotland over an unsolved 16 year old murder.

Police Scotland want to question James McGowan, the father of Dundee United and Australia player, Ryan, in connection with the murder of his former brother-in-law, Owen Brannigan, 45, who was fatally stabbed at a flat in Coatbridge on 29 November 1999.

After applying for application this week at an Adelaide magistrate’s court, Mr McGowan’s application will be considered next month. He was arrested by Adelaide police in December 2013.

It has been reported that Mr McGowan, who has dual Scottish and Australian nationality, has made several visits to the UK in recent years, including a trip to Scotland in 2012 to see Ryan play for Hearts in the Scottish Cup Final.

At the time, the player said his father had called from the capital out of the blue to say he was going to see the game. “He just found himself sitting at home thinking, ‘This might be the only time I get to see my son in a cup final’,” Ryan explained.

“Dad wanted me to keep it quiet though, so he could just turn up at Hampden and sit next to my aunts and uncles as if it were the most natural thing in the world.”

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “We can confirm that an extradition request has been submitted to the Australian authorities in relation to a 55 year-old male. As extradition proceedings are ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”